Process for producing an injectable medicament preparation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for producing injectable medicament preparations containing a therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance which is comprised of an active agent, of a spacer molecule and of at least one protein-binding molecule. After being brought into contact with the body, said therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance covalently bonds to the body fluid constituents or tissue constituents via the protein-binding molecule, thus providing a form of transport of the active agent that an be hydrolytically or enzymatically cleaved, according to pH, in the body while releasing the active agent.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/388,733 filedMar. 24, 2006, pending, which is a divisional application of U.S. Ser.No. 09/980,266 filed Nov. 30, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,387,771, each ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entireties, which is a §371of PCT/EP00/05272 filed Jun. 7, 2000, which claims priority from Germanpatent application no: 199 26 154.7 filed Jun. 9, 1999.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a process for producing injectable medicamentpreparations which comprise a therapeutically and/or diagnosticallyeffective substance which consists of an active compound, a spacermolecule and at least one protein-binding molecule and, after havingbeen brought into contact with the body, binds covalently, by way of theprotein-binding molecule, to body fluid constituents or tissueconstituents, thereby creating a transport form of the active compoundwhich can be hydrolytically or enzymically cleaved, in a pH-dependentmanner, in the body with the active compound being released.

Most of the drugs which are used at present are low molecular weightcompounds and, after having been administered systemically, exhibit highplasma and total clearances. Furthermore, as a result of diffusionprocesses, they penetrate into the tissue structures of the body and asa rule have a uniform biodistribution. These two properties lead to onlysmall quantities of the drug reaching the site of action and, because ofits distribution over the healthy tissue of the body, the drug givesrise to side-effects. These disadvantages are particularly pronounced inthe case of those drugs which possess a high cytotoxic potential, suchas cytostatic agents, immunosuppressive agents or virostatic agents.

Several strategies are pursued for improving the selectivity of lowmolecular weight drugs, for example the chemical derivatization of basicstructures, formulation as prodrugs, or the coupling of the drugs tocarrier molecules. The present invention takes as its starting pointthose concepts in which drugs have been chemically bonded to endogenousmacromolecules. Conjugates are known in which what are in generalcytostatic agents are bound to serum proteins, predominantly toparticular carrier molecules such as human serum albumin and human serumtransferin, and then administered. These known protein conjugates areprepared either by coupling the cytostatic agent to the serum protein exvivo in a “one pot method” (DE 41 22 210 A 1), and isolating theresulting albumin-cytostatic agent conjugate, or by firstly derivatizingthe cytostatic agent with a suitable spacer molecule, isolating theresulting product and, in a second step, coupling the cytostatic agentwhich has been derivatized in this way to the protein by way of amaleimide group (DE 196 36 889 A1 and PCT/DE 97/02000) and thenisolating the resulting albumin-cytostatic agent conjugate. Both methodssuffer from the disadvantage that they use plasma proteins, which maycontain pathogens. Other disadvantages of the above-describedprotein-active compound conjugates are their unsatisfactory stabilityand shelf-life and the technical input required for preparing them.

The invention is based on the object of overcoming these disadvantages.This object is achieved by means of a process for producing aninjectable medicament preparation, comprising a therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substance which is dissolved in an injectablecarrier liquid, which process is characterized in that use is made, asthe therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance, of acompound which consists of an active compound and at least oneprotein-binding molecular residue which are linked by way of a spacer,in which the spacer, or the bond between the active compound and thespacer, can be cleaved hydrolytically or enzymically in the body in apH-dependent manner. The active compound, or a derivative of the activecompound, is released during the cleavage. An active compound derivativeis understood as meaning substances which include the active compoundbut which may additionally contain parts of the spacer or of the groupsby which the active compound was bonded to the protein-binding molecule.The activity of the active compound should not be impaired as a resultof being released as a derivative. The active compound, or itsderivative, preferably only displays its activity after having beenreleased.

The invention is based on the surprising observation that it is notnecessary, as had previously been assumed, to link an active compound toa particular carrier under defined conditions and then to administer theproduct but that, on the contrary, it is possible to employtherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances, whichconsist of a pharmacological active compound and at least oneprotein-binding molecular moiety, which are linked to each other by wayof a spacer, directly as injectable medicaments since thesemedic-aments, after having been brought into contact with the body, bindcovalently, by way of the protein-binding molecule, to body fluid ortissue constituents, predominantly to serum proteins, such that atransport form of the active compound is created in vivo, whichtransport form reaches the cells or the tissue which is/are the targetof the active compound. Since, in the case of the substance which istherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective, the bond in the spacermolecule, or between the active compound and the spacer molecule, can becleaved, according to the invention, hydrolytically or enzymically inthe body in a pH-dependent manner, the active compound is neverthelessreleased, in a selective manner, at the desired target site.

Because of their protein-binding properties, injectable medicamentpreparations, which are obtained in accordance with the invention, oftherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances decisivelyalter and improve the pharmacokinetic profile of the active compounds.When these therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substancesarrive in body fluids, they bind covalently to body fluid or tissueconstituents, preferably to serum proteins, more preferably to serumalbumin, in order, in this way, to be present as macromolecular prodrugswhich transport the active compound to the target site and/or release itin a metered form.

The therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance which isobtained in accordance with the invention consists of an active compoundA, a spacer molecule SM and at least one protein-binding molecule PM,having the following general structure:

In addition, the substance which is obtained in accordance with theinvention can possess labelling groups or labelled elements ormolecules, with the substance then being particularly suitable fordiagnostic purposes. Preferred labels are one or more radionuclides, oneor more ligands comprising radionuclides, one or more positron emitters,one or more NMR contrast agents, one or more fluorescent compound(s)and/or one or more contrast agents in the near IR range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 and 1 a are chromatograms showing the results of Example 2.

FIG. 2A shows the weight and volume of the kidneys and kidney tumors ofExample 4.

FIG. 2B shows the lung weight and number of lung metasteses according toExample 4.

FIG. 3 is a chromatogram showing binding of DOXO-EMHC according toExample 4.

FIG. 4 is a chromatogram showing albumin binding of (Mr1374) accordingto Example 5.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are chromatograms of HSA-2 at t=0 (FIG. 5B) and afterhaving been incubated with activated mmP9 for 30 minutes (FIG. 5B)according to Example 5.

FIG. 6 is a chromatogram showing albumin binding of fluoresceinmaleimideaccording to Example 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Within the meaning of this invention, a diagnostic agent is, forexample, a labelled active compound as described above or one or morefluorescent compound(s) and/or one or more contrast agents in the nearIR range.

The active compound is a cytostatic agent, a cytokine, animmunosuppressive agent, a virostatic agent, an antirheumatic agent, ananalgesic, an antiinflammatory agent, an antibiotic, an antimycoticagent, a signal transduction inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor or aprotease inhibitor.

Cytostatic agents which are preferred for preparing injectable,therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances according tothe present invention are the anthracyclines doxorubicin, daunorubicin,epirubicin, idarubicin, mitoxantrone and ametantrone, and also relatedderivatives, the alkylating agents chlorambucil, bendamustin, melphalanand oxazaphoshorins and also related derivatives, the antimetabolitesmethotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and thioguanine,and also related derivatives, the taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel, andalso related derivatives, the camptothecins topotecan, irinotecan,9-aminocamptothecin and camptothecin, and also related derivatives, thepodophyllotoxin derivatives etoposide, teniposide and mitopodozide, andalso related derivatives, the vinca alkaloids vinblastine, vincristine,vindesine and vinorelbine, and also relative derivatives, thecalicheamicins, the maytansinoids and a compound of the general formulaI to XII:

where X denotes the spacer molecule SM or the protein-binding moleculePM.

Cytokines which are preferred for preparing therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substances of the present invention areinterleukin 2; interferon β-2a, interferon α-2b, interferon β-1a,

Interferon β-1b, interferon γ-1b, and related derivatives. The cytokinesemployed are as a rule recombinantly produced medicaments.

Immunosuppressive agents which are preferred for the process of thepresent invention are cyclosporin A and related derivatives, and alsotacrolimus (FK 506) and related derivatives.

Antirheumatic agents which are particularly suitable for the process ofthe present invention are methotrexate and related derivatives.

Analgesic agents which are preferred for the process of the presentinvention are salicylic acid derivatives, such as acetylsalicylic acidand related derivatives, drug derivatives which possess an acetic acidor propionic acid group, such as diclofenac or indomethacin or ibuprofenor naproxen, and aminophenol derivatives, such as paracetamol.

Antimycotic agents which are preferred for the process of the presentinvention are amphotericin B and related derivatives.

Virostatic agents which are preferred for the process of the presentinvention are nucleoside analogues, such as aciclovir, ganciclovir,idoxuridine, ribavirin, vidaribine, zidovudine, didanosine and2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC), and related derivatives, and amantadine.

Antibiotics which are preferred for the process of the present inventionare sulphonamides, such as sulanilamide, sulphacarbamide andsulphamethoxydiazine and related derivatives, penicillins, such as6-aminopenicillanic acid, penicillin G and penicillin V, and relatedderivatives, isoxazoylpenicillins (e.g. oxacillin, cloxacillin,flucloxacillin), and related derivatives, —substituted benzylpenicillins(eg. ampicillin, carbenicillin, pivampicillin and amoxicillin), andrelated derivatives, acylaminopenicillins (e.g. mezlocillin, azlocillin,piperacillin and apalicillin), and related derivatives,amidinopenicillins, such as mecillinam, atypical ∃-lactams, such asimipenam and aztreonam, cephalosporins, such as cefalexin, cefradine,cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefixime, cefpodoxime, cefazolin, cefazedone,cefuroxime, cefamandole, cefotiam, cefoxitin, cefotetan, cefinetazole,latamoxef, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftizoxime, cefmonoxime,ceftazidime, cefsulodin and cefoperazone, and related derivatives,tetracyclines, such as tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline,demeclocycline, rolitetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, andrelated derivatives, chloramphenicols, such as chloramphenicol andthiamphenicol, and related derivatives, gyrase inhibitors, such asnalixidic acid, pipemidic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacinand enoxacin, and related derivatives, and tuberculosis agents, such asisoniazid and related derivatives.

The spacer molecule SM is an organic molecule which consists of analiphatic carbon chain and/or an aliphatic carbon ring and/or at leastone aromatic compound. The carbon chain/ring preferably consists of 1-12carbon atoms, some of which may be replaced by oxygen atoms, and can,where appropriate, be substituted, particularly by one or morewater-soluble groups, such as sulphonic acid, aminoalkyl or hydroxylgroups. The aromatic compound is preferably a benzene ring which can,where appropriate, be substituted, for example by the abovementionedwater-soluble group. To improve its water solubility, the aliphaticcarbon chain can contain oxygen atoms and be expediently derived, forthis purpose, from an oligoethylene oxide or oligopropylene oxide chain,for example a diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol or dipropyleneglycol chain.

The protein-binding molecule PM is preferably a maleimide group, ahaloacetamide group, a haloacetate group, a pyridyldithio group, anN-hydroxysuccinimide ester group or an isothiocyanate group. It can alsobe a disulphide group, a vinylcarbonyl group, an aziridine group or anacetylene group. The disulphide group is preferably activated, as a ruleby a thionitrobenzoic acid (e.g. 5′-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid) being theexchangeable group. The groups may be substituted, where appropriate.The maleimide, pyridyldithio or N-hydroxysuccinimide ester group can,where appropriate, be substituted by alkyl or by the abovementionedwater-soluble groups. The PM possesses protein-binding properties, i.e.,it binds covalently, in a physiological environment, to particular aminoacids on the surface of the protein. In this connection, the maleimidegroup, the haloacetamide group, the haloacetate group, the pyridyldithiogroup, the disulphide group, the vinylcarbonyl group, the aziridinegroup and/or the acetylene group preferably reacts with HS groups ofcysteines, while the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester group and theisothiocyanate group preferably react with the amino group of lysines,on the surface of the protein.

Following parenteral administration, the therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substance, which is prepared, as an injectablemedicament preparation, by the process of the present invention, arrivesin the blood stream and can bind to proteins by way of the PM. Thebinding preferably takes place to serum proteins, in particular serumalbumin. It has been found that, in a physiological environment, thetherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance reacts, by wayof the maleimide group, the haloacetamide group, the haloacetate group,the pyridyldithio group, the disulphide group, the vinylcarbonyl group,the aziridine group or the acetylene group, with the free cysteine-34 ofthe albumin, in particular, and is in this way bound covalently.Pharmacologically active substances having an N-hydroxysuccinimide estergroup or isothiocyanate group preferentially bind to the -amino group oflysines on the protein surface of albumin or other serum proteins. Serumproteins, such as albumin or transferin, have a markedly long half-lifein the systemic circulation (up to 19 days—Peters, T. Jr. (1985): Serumalbumin. Adv. Protein. Chem. 37, 161-245). Because the permeability tomacromolecules of the walls of the vessels in the malignant, infected orinflamed tissue is increased, the serum albumin preferentially makes itsway into this target tissue (Maeda, H.; Matsumura, Y. Crit. Rev. Ther.Drug Carrier Sys. (1989), 6, 193-210). As a result, an active compoundwhich is coupled to albumin is able to reach the site of action in amore targeted manner. Furthermore, the covalent coupling of the activecompound to serum proteins in the blood stream prevents the activecompound from diffusing into healthy tissue structures in the body orbeing eliminated by way of the kidneys, or damaging these tissues to thesame extent as would the unbound active compound. As a result, thepharmacokinetic profile of the active compound is altered and improvedsince its effect is increased as a result of it being enriched at thesite of action and, at the same time, the toxic effects on healthysystems in the body are diminished.

The therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances which areused in accordance with the present invention contain a defined chemicalbond in the spacer molecule or between the SM and the A. This bond canbe cleaved or hydrolytically cleaved in a pH-dependent manner,preferably in an acid-labile manner, or else it contains a bond whichcan be cleaved enzymically in the body, preferably a peptide bond.

Examples of bonds which are cleaved by hydrolysis, with the activecompound being released, are ester bonds or metal complex bonds, as arepresent in platinum-dicarboxylate complexes, with adiamminediaquo-platinum(II) complex being released. The acid-labilecleavable bonds are acetal, ketal, imine, hydrazone, carboxylhydrazoneor sulphonylhydrazone bonds, or cis-aconityl bonds or bonds containing atrityl group, with it being possible for the trityl group to besubstituted or unsubstituted. Preferred therapeutically/diagnosticallyrelevant acid-labile bonds are described, for example, in Kratz et al.(1990) Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug. Car. Sys. 16 (3), 245-288. The peptidesequence in the peptide bonds which are formed consists as a rule ofabout 2-30 amino acids. In this connection, the peptide sequence ispreferably tailor-made for the substrate specificity of particularenzymes, which are designated target enzymes in that which follows, suchthat the peptide sequence, or a part of this sequence, is recognized byan enzyme in the body and the peptide is cleaved. According to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the enzymically cleavable bondconsists of a bond which is not a peptide bond. Examples are carbamatebonds, which, by the mediation of disease-specific enzymes, e.g.glutathione-S-transferases, glucuronidases and galactosidases, releasethe active compound or an active compound derivative. It is also readilypossible for an enzymically cleavable bond to be composed of a peptidesequence and one of the abovementioned bonds which is not a peptidebond. The target enzymes can be either endogenous enzymes or enzymeswhich occur in microorganisms or are formed by microorganisms.

The target enzymes are as a rule proteases, serine proteases,plasminogen activators and peptidases, for example matrixmetalloproteases (MMP) or cysteine proteases, which are formed to anincreased extent, or are activated, in association with diseases such asrheumatoid arthritis or cancer, thereby leading to excessive tissuebreakdown, to inflammations and to metastases. Target enzymes are, inparticular, MMP 2, MMP3 and MMP 9, which are involved, as proteases, inthe abovementioned pathological processes (Vassalli, J., Pepper, M. S.(1994), Nature 370, 14-15, Brown, P. D. (1995), Advan Enzyme Regul. 35,291-301).

Further proteases which constitute target enzymes for therapeuticallyand/or diagnostically effective substances of the present invention arecathepsins, in particular cathepsin B, H and L, which have beenidentified as key enzymes in inflammatory and malignant diseases.

The abovementioned bond types ensure that the active compound, or acorrespondingly active derivative, is released, extracellularly and/orintracellularly, following uptake of the conjugate by the cell, and canexpress its therapeutic and/or diagnostic effect, at the active site.

The cleavage can also take place in such a way that it is not the activecompound as such which is cleaved off, but, instead, a derivative of theactive compound. Such a derivative constantly contains the activecompound and groups which are bonded to it and which are derived fromthe spacer molecule, depending on the site at which the desired cleavagehas taken place.

The therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance which isused in the process of the present invention can be prepared inaccordance with one of the general descriptions given below:

Active compounds which possess a COOH group are derivatized in thefollowing manner

In this connection, the esterification is effected using customarymethods with which the skilled person is familiar.

It is furthermore possible to convert the COOH group into a hydrazidegroup, for example by reacting with tert-alkyl carbazates andsubsequently cleaving with acids (described in DE 196 36 889), and toreact the drug possessing a hydrazide group with a spacer which consistsof PM and SM and which contains a carbonyl component, as described,inter alia, in DE 196 36 889 A1 and also PCT/DE 97/02000:

R=H, alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl

Active compounds of the present invention which possess an NH₂ group arederivatized in the following manner:

R=H, alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl

In this connection, the reaction to give the imine derivatives iseffected using customary methods with which the skilled person isfamiliar.

Active compounds of the present invention which possess an OH group arederivatized in the following manner:

In this connection, the esterification is effected using customarymethods with which the skilled person is familiar.

Active compounds of the present invention which possess a carbonylcomponent are derivatized in the following manner:

Z=chemical group belonging to the active compound

In this connection, the reaction to give the carboxyhydrazone,sulphonylhydrazone, hydrazone and/or imine derivatives takes place inaccordance with methods which are described, inter alia, in DE 196 36889 A1 and/or PCT/DE 97/02000, or using customary methods with which theskilled person is familiar.

It is furthermore possible to convert an OH group or an NH2 group on anactive compound into a carbonyl component, for example by means ofesterification or amide formation using a carboxylic acid-carryingcarbonyl component in accordance with the following general formula:

where R is an aliphatic carbon chain and/or an aliphatic carbon ringand/or an aromatic moiety and R₁=H, or an alkyl, phenyl or substitutedphenyl group. As a rule, R consists of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms whichmay, where appropriate, be substituted, e.g. by water-soluble groupssuch as sulphonic acid, aminoalkyl or hydroxyl groups. The aromaticmoiety is as a rule a benzene ring which can, where appropriate, besubstituted, for example by the abovementioned water-soluble groups.

The carbonyl component can furthermore be introduced using otherchemical reactions, for example by means of an electrophilicsubstitution at the HO or NH₂ group in the active compound using asuitable carbonyl component.

The active compounds which have been derivatized in this way, and whichnow possess a carbonyl component, are reacted, in analogy with theabove-described methods, with the protein-binding spacer molecules,which possess an amino, hydrazide or hydrazine group, to give thecorresponding carboxylhydrazone, sulphonylhydrazone, hydrazone or iminederivatives. The acid-labile cleavage of these bonds consequently leadsto a release of the derivatized active compound which possesses acarbonyl component.

The spacers, which consist of the protein-binding molecule PM and thespacer molecule SM, can be prepared, for example, in accordance withmethods which are described, inter alia, in DE 196 36 889 A1, U. Beyeret al. Chemical Monthly, 128, 91, 1997, R. S. Greenfield et al., CancerRes., 50, 6600, 1990, T. Kaneko et al., Bioconjugate Chem., 2, 133,1991, Bioconjugate Techniques, G. T. Hermanson, Academic Press, 1996 orin U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,445.

Therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances for thepresent invention which contain a peptide bond can be prepared byreacting a peptide, which consists of from 2 to about 30 amino acids,with a protein-binding compound such that a protein-binding molecule isintroduced directly, or by way of a spacer molecule SM, at theN-terminal end of the peptide. Such protein-binding peptide derivativesare preferably synthesized using a solid phase synthesis with which theskilled person is familiar, with a carboxylic acid-carrying,protein-binding spacer molecule, for example a maleimidocarboxylic acid,being bonded, by means of peptide coupling, to the N-terminal end of thepeptide in the last step of the peptide synthesis and theprotein-binding peptide then being eliminated from the solid phase. Thepeptide derivatives which are obtained in this way can be reacted withan active compound, which possesses an NH₂ or OH group, in the presenceof a condensing agent, such as N,N′-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCC) orN-cyclohexyl-N′-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimidemetho-p-toluenesulphonate (CMC),(benzotriazol-1-yloxy)trispyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate(pyBOP) or O-benzotriazole-N,N,N¹,N¹-tetramethyluroniumhexafluorophosphate, and, where appropriate, with the addition ofN-hydroxy-succinimide or of a water-soluble N-hydroxysuccinimide, suchas N-hydroxysuccinimide-3-sulphonic acid sodium salt or1-hydroxybenzotriazole and/or in the presence of a base, such asN-methyhnorpholine or triethylamine, to give the correspondingprotein-binding active compound-peptide derivatives:

It is furthermore possible to introduce an NH₂ or OH group by way of theCOOH group which is present on the active compounds, for example bymeans of derivatizing with the amino acids (AA) lysine, serine orthreonine by way of their -amino group or by way of the V-amino groupusing a diamino compound of the general formula H₂N—(CH₂)_(n)—NH₂ orusing an alcoholamine of the general formula H₂N—(CH₂)_(n)—OH, wheren=1-12, and subsequently reacting these derivatives with theabovementioned peptide derivatives to give the correspondingprotein-binding active compound-peptide derivatives:

AA=lysine, serine or threonine

The substrate specificity of target enzymes, for example of MMP 2, MMP3and MMP 9 and cathepsin B, H and L, is known (Netzel-Arnett et al.(1993), Biochemistry 32, 6427-6432, Shuja S., Sheahan, K., Murname, M.J. (1991), Int. J. Cancer 49, 341-346, Lah, T. T., Kos, J. (1998), Biol.Chem. 379, 125-130).

For example, in the case of MMP 2 and MMP 9, octapeptides (P4-P′4) havebeen identified, which octapeptides simulate the cleavage sequence ofthe collagen chain and are cleaved particularly efficiently by MMP 2 and9:

Peptide P₄ P₃ P₂ P₁ P′₁ P′₂ P′₃ P′₄ Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gln(SEQ ID NO: 1) Gly-Pro-Gln-Gly-Ile-Trp-Gly-Gln (SEQ ID NO: 2)

(Netzel-Arnett et al., Biochemistry 32, 1993, 6427-764

The peptides are enzymically cleaved exclusively at the P₁—P′₁ bond.

Furthermore, substrate-specific dipeptides having the sequence-Arg-Arg-, (SEQ ID NO: 3), -Phe-Lys-, (SEQ ID NO: 4) Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly(SEQ ID NO: 5), Gly-Phe-Ala-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 6) and Ala-Leu-Ala-Leu (SEQID NO: 7) are known in the case of cathepsin B (Werle, B., Ebert, E.,Klein, W., Spiess, E. (1995), Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 376, 157-164;Ulricht, B., Spiess, E., Schwartz-Albiez, R., Ebert, W. (1995), Biol.Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 376, 404-414).

The peptide sequence which contains the expected peptide cleavage sitewhich is relevant for the target enzyme can also be constructed suchthat the expected peptide cleavage site is repeated several times, forexample by means of:

(SEQ ID NO: 8) -Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gln-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Ile Ala-Gly-Gln or (SEQ ID NO: 9)-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-

or it is possible to integrate a repetitive peptide sequence whichincreases the distance between the protein-binding molecule and therelevant expected peptide cleavage site, as, for example, by means of:

(SEQ ID NO: 8) -Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Phe-Lys-Phe-Lys-

That which is crucial for the therapeutically and/or diagnosticallyeffective substances which are to be used in the present invention isthe fact that the expected peptide cleavage site which is relevant forthe particular target enzyme occurs at least once in an oligopeptide.The oligopeptides which are listed above are representative examples forpreparing therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances.

Therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substances for thepresent invention which contain a cytokine can be prepared by reactingthe cytokine with a protein-binding group-containing spacer moleculewhich possesses a carboxylic acid or an activated carboxylic acid:

If the spacer molecule possesses an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester group(N-hydroxysuccinimide or N-hydroxysuccinimide-3-sulphonic acid sodiumsalt), it is reacted directly with the cytokine. The reaction of thecytokine with a protein-binding group-containing spacer molecule whichpossesses a carboxylic acid takes place in the presence of a condensingagent, such as N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) orN-cyclohexyl-N′-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimidemetho-p-toluene-sulphonate (CMC), and, where appropriate, with additionof N-hydroxysuccinimide or N-hydroxysuccinimide-3-sulphonic acid sodiumsalt, to give the corresponding protein-binding cytokine derivatives.The cytokines which have been derivatized in this way are expedientlypurified by means of gel filtration chromatography. The skilled personis familiar with the above-described reactions (Bioconjugate Techniques,G. T. Hermanson, Academic Press, 1996).

Following the synthesis of the therapeutically and/or diagnosticallyeffective substance, an injectable medicament preparation, whichcomprises the therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance,is produced in a suitable carrier liquid. The therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substance is preferably present as alyophilisate, with it being possible to add customary carriers and/orpharmaceutical auxiliary substances, such as polysorbates, glucose,lactose, mannose, citric acid, tromethamol, triethanolamine oraminoacetic acid, before or after the lyophilisation. The injectablemedicament preparation must be produced in such a way that theprotein-binding molecule is not deactivated, eliminated or hydrolysed bythe process of dissolving in the injectable carrier liquid. Furthermore,care must be taken to ensure that the acid-labile bond in thetherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance, which bond isan ester, acttal, ketal, imine, hydrazone, carboxylhydrazone orsulphonyl-hydrazone bond, is not hydrolysed. The protein-bindingmolecules which are used within the context of the present invention arebase-sensitive, which means that the pH of the carrier liquid should notexceed a pH of 8.0. The pH is preferably in the range of pH 4.0-7.0,more preferably between pH 6.0 and pH 7.0. In addition, the carrierliquid must naturally be physiologically tolerated.

Carrier liquids which are preferred are virtually isotonic salt buffers,for example phosphate, acetate or citrate buffers, such as 0.004 Msodium phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 6.0-7.0, or 0.01 M sodium acetate,0.14 M NaCl, pH 5.0-6.5. The carrier liquid used can also be an isotonicsodium chloride solution. The salt buffers may contain customaryexcipients and/or auxiliary substances, such as polysorbates, glucose,lactose, mannose, citric acid, tromethamol, triethanolamine oraminoacetic acid.

The solubility of the therapeutically and/or diagnostically effectivesubstance in the injectable carrier liquid can be improved by means ofpharmaceutical solvents, such as ethanol, isopropanol, 1,2-propyleneglycol, glycerol, macrogols, polyethylene glycols and/or polyethyleneoxides, or by means of solubility promoters, e.g. Tween, cremophore orpolyvinylpyrrolidone. For this purpose, the therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substance is either dissolved in thepharmaceutical solvent or solubility promoter and then diluted with asalt buffer, or else a carrier liquid, which contains the salt bufferand at least one pharmaceutical solvent or solubility promoter, is useddirectly for dissolving the therapeutically and/or diagnosticallyeffective substance. In this connection, the concentration of thepharmaceutical solvents and/or solubility promoters do not exceed thequantities stipulated by the Arzneimittelgesetz (AMG) (Medicines Act).

The carrier liquid should preferably be selected such that the processof dissolving the therapeutically and/or diagnostically effectivesubstance in the carrier liquid is concluded after a few minutes, suchthat an injectable medicament preparation is made available at thepatient's bedside.

It is also possible, in addition, for a carrier molecule, such as one ofthose mentioned at the outset, to be brought into contact with theeffective substance, with the effective substance being able to bind tothis carrier molecule. According to another embodiment, the presentinvention consequently encompasses the step of bringing the carriermolecule and the protein-binding therapeutically and/or diagnosticallyeffective substance into contact ex vivo and subsequently administeringthem parenterally. In this way, it is possible, if desired or ifnecessary, to improve the selectivity of the therapeutically and/ordiagnostically effective substance for a carrier molecule, for examplefor albumin. The carrier molecules are preferably selected from thecarrier molecules which have been mentioned, in particular serumproteins.

The therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance which hasbeen prepared in accordance with the process according to the inventionis consequently suitable for treating cancer diseases, virus diseases,autoimmune diseases, acute or chronic inflammatory diseases and/ordiseases which are caused by bacteria, fungi or other microorganisms.

Another part of the subject-matter of the present invention is atherapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance containing atleast one active compound, which substance is characterized in that itpossesses at least one protein-binding molecular residue which is linkedto the active compound by means of a spacer, with the spacer, or thebond between the spacer and the active compound, being hydrolytically orenzymically cleavable in the body in a pH-dependent manner, resulting inthe release of the active compound, with the active compound not being acytostatic agent.

Yet another part of the subject-matter of the present invention is adiagnostically effective substance containing at least one diagnosticagent, which substance is characterized in that it [lacuna] at least oneprotein-binding molecular residue which is linked to the diagnosticagent by means of a spacer, with the spacer, or the bond between thespacer and the diagnostic agent, being hydrolytically or enzymicallycleavable in the body in a pH-dependent manner, resulting in the releaseof the diagnostic agent. As mentioned above, the diagnostic agentpreferably comprises one or more radionuclides, one or more ligandscomprising radionuclides, one or more positron emitters, one or more NMRcontrast agents, one or more fluorescent compound(s) and/or one or morecontrast agents in the near IR range.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a diagnostic kitwhich comprises a protein-binding, diagnostically effective substanceaccording to the invention, where appropriate together with the carriermolecule and pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances, carriersubstances and/or diluents, which are selected, in particular, fromthose mentioned above. The diagnostic kit according to the invention canpreferably be used for detecting the diseases as defined above or fordetecting carrier molecules and/or their distribution in the body.

Yet another part of the subject-matter of the present invention is aprocess for producing an injectable medicament preparation, comprising adiagnostically effective substance which is dissolved in an injectablecarrier liquid, which process is characterized in that a compoundcomprising a diagnostic agent and at least one protein-binding molecularresidue is used as the diagnostically effective substance. A diagnosticagent can be one of the above-mentioned compounds, for example one ormore radionuclides, one or more ligands comprising radionuclides, one ormore positron emitters, one or more NMR contrast agents, one or morefluorescent compound(s) and/or one or more contrast agents in the nearIR range. The diagnostic agent and the at least one protein-bindingmolecular residue can also be linked by means of a spacer. In this case,preference is given to the spacer, or the bond which links the twocomponents, not being cleavable. Examples of bonds which are notcleavable in the body, and which can be present in the case of the bondto the diagnostically effective substance, are amide bonds, saturated orunsaturated carbon-carbon bonds or bonds between carbon and aheteroatom, i.e. —C—X—, where X is preferably O, N, S or P. An amidebond is a preferred bond. Preference is given to the therapeuticallyeffective substance being released since, as a rule, the low molecularweight active compound must interact with its molecular target in orderto express its pharmacological activity. In the case of diagnosticallyeffective substances, on the other hand, it is not absolutely necessaryfor the protein-bound diagnostic agent to be released; however, this mayoccur. According to the invention, therefore, the diagnosticallyeffective substance can be additionally bound to the spacer molecule byway of a bond which is not cleavable in the body or be bound directly tothe protein-binding group without any spacer molecule SM being present.

The following examples explain the invention in more detail.

Example 1 Preparation of DOXO-HYD

The pharmacologically active substance depicted below (abbreviated toDOXO-HYD) consists of the cytostatic agent doxorubicin, a maleimidegroup as the protein-binding molecule PM, and a phenylacetylhydrazonespacer as the spacer molecule SM. The bond between doxorubicin and thespacer molecule SM is an acid-labile carboxyl-hydrazone bond:

10.51 mg of DOXO-HYD are dissolved, by shaking, in 2.0 ml of1,2-propylene glycol and this solution is subsequently diluted with 8.0ml of phosphate buffer (0.004 M sodium phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl—pH 6.5)and homogenized (concentration of DOXO-HYD in the carrier liquid. 1300μM). The injectable medicament preparation of DOXO-HYD which had beenproduced in this way was immediately administered intravenously toexperimental animals (see below).

Example 2 Binding of DOXO-HYD to Human Plasma

After DOXO-HYD arrives in the blood stream, it binds to serum proteins,preferentially to serumalbumin, such that DOXO-HYD is present, interalia, as an acid-labile albumin-doxorubicin conjugate.

Studies of the incubation of human blood plasma with DOXO-HYD at 37° C.show that most of the DOXO-HYD is covalently bonded to the albumin after5 minutes of incubation (FIG. 1A). —in contrast to free doxorubicin(FIG. 1B). This situation is depicted in the chromatograms of FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

In this experiment, the plasma sample was separated, after theincubation had taken place, on a POROS®-20 anion exchange column (theproteins were detected at 254 nm while the anthracycline was detected byfluorescence).

Example 3 The activity of DOXO-HYD In Vivo

The biological data listed below clarify the in vivo activity ofDOXO-HYD as compared with that of free doxorubicin: in what is termedthe RENCA (renal cell carcinoma)-model, doxorubicin and DOXO-HYD werecompared with each other, at approximately equitoxic doses, as regardstheir antitumour activity (intravenous therapy 10 days after injectingabout 1 million kidney carcinoma cells into the left kidney).

Animals: Balc/c mice, female; Tumour: RENCA, renal cell carcinoma

Therapy: Intravenous (i.v.) on day (d) 10, 13, 17 and 20, end ofexperiment on d24

Average decrease in body weight Number of (%) Mice Substance Dose d 1-2410 Control 10 Doxorubicin 4 × 10 mmol/kg −15 10 DOXO-HYD 4 × 20 mmol/kg−15

The results of this experiment are depicted below. DOXO-HYD exhibitsvery good antitumour activity and achieves a marked reduction in kidneytumour volume and in the number of lung metastases as compared with thecontrol group and the doxorubicin-treated group.

The weight and volume of the kidneys and kidney tumours and the numberof lung metastases as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The symbol * in FIGS. 2A and 2B refers to a significant in relation tothe control group (control).

The symbol + in FIGS. 2A and 2B refers to significant in relation to thegroup which received doxorubicin.

Example 4 Binding of DOXO-EMHC to Albumin in Human Plasma

1.6 mg of the 6-maleimidocaproic acid hydrazone derivative ofdoxorubicin (abbreviated to DOXO-EMHC) having the following structuralformula

are dissolved, at room temperature, in 1.0 ml of phosphate buffer (0.15M NaCl, 0.004 M sodium phosphate, pH 6.5) (2000 μM solution). When 250μof this solution are incubated for 30 seconds, at 37° C., with 1.0 ml ofhuman plasma and the sample is subsequently separated on a weak anionexchanger (from POROS®), it is found that the majority of the DOXO-EMHCis bound to albumin (see FIG. 3).

Example 5 Binding of an MMP9-Cleavable Doxorubicin-Maleimide-PeptideDerivative (2) to Albumin Following a One-Minute Incubation with HumanPlasma

The doxorubicin-maleimide-peptide derivative (2) was prepared inaccordance with the following reaction equation:

In this preparation, the maleimidoglycine-derivatized octapeptideGln-Gly-Ala-Ile-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 11) 1 (Mr 848, prepared byBachem AG, Switzerland using solid-phase synthesis) is reacted withdoxorubicin in accordance with the following protocol:

25 mg of 1 (as the trifluoroacetate salt), dissolved in 500:1 of DMF,33.5 mg of O-benzotriazole-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluroniumhexafluorophosphate (HPTU), dissolved in 200 μl of DMF, 11.9 mg ofhydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, dissolved in 100:1 of DMF, and 16.2 μA ofN-methylmorpholine are added to a slightly turbid solution of 17.1 mg ofdoxorubicin in 3 ml of DMF and the mixture is subsequently stirred inthe dark at RT for 18 h. DMF was removed under high vacuum and the solidtaken up in 20 ml of methanol; this solution was then filtered andconcentrated down to 1 ml in vacuo. After purifying on silica gel (ethylacetate/methanol 2/1), 5 mg of 2 were obtained.

Incubation Study Using Human Plasma

1.4 mg of 2 (Mr 1374) are dissolved, at room temperature, in 1.0 ml ofphosphate buffer (0.15 M NaCl, 0.004 M sodium phosphate, pH 6.5) (1000μm solution). When 300 μl of this solution is incubated for 60 seconds,at 37° C., with 1.0 ml of human plasma and the sample is subsequentlyseparated on a weak anion exchanger (from POROS®), it is found that themajority of 2 is bound to albumin (see FIG. 4).

The peptide sequence Gln-Gly-Ala-Ile-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gly (SEQ ID NO: 11) isrecognized by the matrix metalloprotease MMP9 and cleaved betweenisoleucine and glycine. This was demonstrated by the followingexperiment: 200 μl of a 100 μM solution of the albumin conjugate of 2having the following structure (abbreviated to HSA-2):

which was prepared by the method described in German Patent ApplicationA19926475.9, dated 10 Jun. 1999, was incubated, at 37° for 30 minutes,with trypsin/aprotinin-activated MMP9 (2 mU, from Calbiochem, Germany).The release of DOXO-Gln-Gly-Ala-Ile after this time is depicted in thefollowing chromatograms. The figure shows the chromatogram of HSA-2 att-0) (separation by means of HPLC exclusion chromatography using aBiosil 250 SEC column supplied by Biorad, detection at λ=495 nm) andafter having been incubated with activated MMP9 for 30 minutes (seeFIGS. 5A and 5B).

Example 6 Binding of Fluoresceinmaleimide to Albumin in Human Plasma

After incubating 250 μl of a 100 μM solution of fluoresceinmaleimidesolution (phosphate buffer=0.15 M NaCl, 0.004 M sodium phosphate, pH5.0) with 1.0 ml of human plasma for 5 minutes and subsequentlyseparating the sample by means of gel filtration chromatography(Superdex® 200, Pharmacia), it is found that the majority of thefluoresceinmaleimide is bound to albumin (see FIG. 6).

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A method for treating a disease selected from acancer, a virus disease, autoimmune disease, acute or chronicinflammatory disease, and a disease caused by bacteria, fungi, or othermicro-organisms, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof atherapeutically effective amount of a substance comprising: at least oneactive compound selected from a cytostatic agent, a cytokine, animmunosuppressive agent, a virostatic agent, an antirheumatic agent, ananalgesic, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic, an antimycoticagent, a signal transduction inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, and aprotease inhibitor; at least one covalently protein-binding molecularresidue selected from a maleimide, a haloacetamide, a haloacetate, apyridylthio, a N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, an isothiocyanate, adisulfide, a vinylcarbonyl, an aziridine, and an acetylene; and a spacercomprising an organic molecular residue, which contains at least onearomatic moiety or at least one aliphatic carbon chain or an aliphaticcarbon ring having 1-12 carbon atoms, some of which can be replaced withoxygen; wherein the protein-binding molecular residue is linked to theactive compound through the spacer, and wherein the protein-bindingmolecular residue is not bound to a carrier protein.
 21. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the substance has the following structure:


22. The method of claim 20, wherein the substance has the followingstructure:


23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the disease is a cancerand the substance has the following structure:


24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the disease is a cancerand the substance has the following structure:


25. A diagnostic kit comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,a carrier, or a diluent, and a diagnostically effective substancecomprising: a diagnostic agent selected from a radionuclide, a positronemitter, a NMR contrast agent, a fluorescent compound, and a contrastagent in the near IR range; a spacer comprising an organic molecularresidue, which contains at least one aromatic moiety or at least onealiphatic carbon chain or an aliphatic carbon ring having 1-12 carbonatoms, some of which can be replaced with oxygen; and at least onecovalently protein-binding molecular residue selected from a maleimide,a haloacetamide, a haloacetate, a pyridylthio, a N-hydroxysuccinimideester, an isothiocyanate, a disulfide, a vinylcarbonyl, an aziridine,and an acetylene; wherein the protein-binding molecular residue islinked to the diagnostic agent through the spacer, and wherein theprotein-binding molecular residue is not bound to a carrier protein. 26.A method for detecting a cancer, auto immune disease, acute or chronicinflammatory disease, or a disease caused by a virus or a microorganism,comprising utilizing the kit of claim
 25. 27. A process for producing aninjectable preparation that comprises a diagnostically effectivesubstance, comprising dissolving the diagnostically effective substancein an injectable carrier liquid, wherein the diagnostically effectivesubstance comprises: a diagnostic agent selected from a radionuclide, apositron emitter, a NMR contrast agent, a fluorescent compound, and acontrast agent in the near IR range; a spacer comprising an organicmolecular residue, which contains at least one aromatic moiety or atleast one aliphatic carbon chain or an aliphatic carbon ring having 1-12carbon atoms, some of which can be replaced with oxygen; and at leastone covalently protein-binding molecular residue selected from amaleimide, a haloacetamide, a haloacetate, a pyridylthio, aN-hydroxysuccinimide ester, an isothiocyanate, a disulfide, avinylcarbonyl, an aziridine, and an acetylene, wherein theprotein-binding molecular residue is linked to the diagnostic agentthrough the spacer, and wherein the protein-binding molecular residue isnot bound to a carrier protein.
 28. The process according to claim 27,wherein said spacer is phenylacetylhydrazone.
 29. The process accordingto claim 27 wherein the bond between the diagnostic agent and theprotein-binding molecular residue or the spacer is not cleavable.
 30. Aninjectable preparation produced by the process of claim
 27. 31. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the substance has the chemicalformula:

wherein A the active compound; SM is the spacer; and PM is theprotein-binding molecular residue.
 32. The method according to claim 31,wherein the substance has the chemical formula:

wherein X is a chemical group shared between the active compound and thespacer selected from

wherein, R is H, alkyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl, and Z is achemical group belonging to the active compound.
 33. The methodaccording to claim 32, wherein the substance has the chemical formula:


34. The method according to claim 20, wherein the spacer comprises atleast one aliphatic carbon chain having 1-12 carbon atoms which isoptionally substituted.
 35. The method according to claim 34, whereinthe aliphatic carbon chain comprises 5 carbon atoms.
 36. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the spacer comprises at least onearomatic moiety.
 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein thearomatic moiety is an optionally substituted benzene ring.
 38. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the active compound and the spacerare joined by a hydrazone moiety.
 39. The method according to claim 20,wherein the active compound is a cytostatic agent.
 40. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the cytostatic agent is an anthracycline.41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the anthracyclinecomprises doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin,mitoxantrone, or ametantrone, or a derivative of any of the foregoing.42. The method according to claim 20, wherein the protein-bindingmolecular residue is a maleimide.
 43. The method according to claim 20,wherein the spacer or the bond between the spacer and the activecompound, is hydrolytically or enzymatically cleavable in the body ofthe patient in a pH-dependent manner.
 44. The method according to claim20, wherein the disease is a cancer.
 45. The method according to claim41, wherein the anthracycline comprises doxorubicin or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 46. The method according toclaim 44, wherein the cancer is a tumor.